We had our first series of swim lessons this week. Mind you, these aren't the "swim classes" we were used to in California where the kids pretty much learn to blow bubbles and play with water toys and they giggle and splash and leave wanting more. Oh no - this was a whole different experience. We knew that living here meant we would need to have good swimmers and we are fully aware of the water dangers here on the island. So Veda and Eve completed a 5 day course of intense private swim lessons. INTENSE! Did I say intense? They both screamed through the first two lessons, then Veda had a break through on the third day. She was doing really well - jumping into the pool by herself and swimming to the other side. She was so excited and pleased with herself. But poor Eve. By the third lesson I couldn't take it any more. We both cried through the whole thing and I told the instructor that I didn't think she was ready for this. Travis felt really strongly that she should finish the last two days so he took her the next day. I took them both yesterday, graduation day. Veda still cried before she got in, but was smiling when she came out. She really learned a lot and I am confident she could hold her own in a pool should anything happen. Eve was so panicked and terrified that she absorbed very little of the technique and I feel like she was just tortured the whole week. I really feel terrible about it. I won't give details because I'm afraid someone will turn me into CPS for letting her go through it. I'll just say that the instructor would simulate a "fall" and then let Evie struggle through it. I know - I can't sleep at night.
She teaches them how to come up from under the water and swim on their back. After they master swimming on their back, she has them roll over and practice swimming face down. She had Veda practice jumping in the pool, coming up, putting her chin up, head back and floating on her back. Then she would swim to the side until her head touched the edge and reach up with one arm, grab the side of the pool, flip over, and climb out of the pool. I think it's a genius approach (for a four year old) because it teaches survival first.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
We've got a swimmer (and a screamer)!
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7 comments:
I'm sorry, KC. :( I have a hard time even looking at the pics of Evie....Remember what we talked about last night. You're an incredible mom who is doing what's best for her kids - - even if that's really hard. I love you!
Kaycee, I'm so glad to see you posted! I've missed catching up with you. This was indeed very different from the good ol' Drayson Center. As hard as it was for you and the girls, this sounds like it will pay off. My neighbor did something similar and felt the same way as you did. However, she has good swimmers and peace of mind now when she's at a pool.
Kaycee, I watched Brian cry through 5 days of private swim lessons too (when he was 2 1/2) and I could hardly stand it! It is horrible to watch your child cry in water. But you are a great mom and I would want my children to be water safe if I lived in Hawaii too! Just remember you are doing it to protect your children and to keep them safe. Maybe you should check out some of the near drowning blogs I have come across as I have been researching stuff related to brain traumas. After reading such blogs you will feel a lot better about the swim lessons! Watching a child live with a brain injury from a near drowning would be a lot worse than watching them cry through swim lessons. We miss you guys!
whoa, that sounds intense. but i'm proud of you for going through it to keep your girls safe. that's the most important thing.
Nothing more heart wrenching than your own kids screaming for you! Eve was probably feeding off Veda's crying too! It was probably better for all of you that you took the last days off.
Oh no Kaycee! Regular swimming classes were traumatic enough - I think more for me than Merrit. They had them "swim" to the stairs and she'd be under the water for probably five seconds and I'd start to panic...too long, way too long! It's so hard to watch your kids do something difficult even when you know it's the best thing. You are FANTASTIC mom and anyone who knows you, knows you adore those girls. I'm proud of all three of you for going to swim classes.
It's tough being a mom sometimes, but you have to do what you know is best for your kids, even if they don't like it. Like I said before, it's a good thing I wasn't there. I would have rescued Evie. But, like you said, we would rather have her water safe. Glad you all survived. Love you! Mom
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